Getting The Shot!!!!

Laying prone in a running stream of runoff water in the rain to get the angle for the shot I wanted and fondly remembering it as one of the funnest things I have ever done... I am either crazy, or a photographer, more than likely a little of both. It is a standing joke that I can't do a shoot without coming home filthy from rolling around on the ground, climbing trees, laying in the sand etc. If it is humanly possible to get a unique perspective for a shot I will try it.

If you want shots that no one else has ever gotten, you have to get your camera where no one else has ever gone.

~Joe McNally

Perspectives

Kayla-74
Look for different perspectives and angles. Bob and weave up and down, side to side. Sometimes it is amazing what a difference moving a few inches will make in the look of the picture. If the only perspective that is ever shot is standing completely upright all the pictures will take on a boring repetition and look like snap shots made by a tourist in a Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts with black socks.

Looking for things to climb up on like trees, railings, platforms, ladders, sometimes only a foot of elevation makes all the difference. Being willing to get dirty or wet to kneel or lay on the ground can get you a "chipmunks view" and is a perfect way to steady your camera for a difficult shot.

Don't forget to take a look at shooting down the wall, it makes for a really cool look where the picture goes from blurry to focus and leads the eyes where you want to take them and says, "Now look right here"

Stability

If you are not using a tripod, or don't have one, shooting sharp and clear shots handheld can be a challenge especially when the light is low. The best tip is find something to set your camera on or brace your camera up against like a sign post, a railing, a doorway. If there is none of these to use, get your elbows into your body to use your own body as a brace, take a strong stance, breath deep and hold it till your shot is done. You can also squat or kneel and use your knees as a brace depending on your flexibility. Or there is the Joe McNally trick of resting your camera on your left shoulder and looking through the view finder with your left eye and getting added stability there.

Graduation 70D-137

Removing Clutter

Look in the pictures above under the pier. There were people walking past intentionally attempting to photobomb the pictures. Many of those people would never want to photobomb anything if they truly paused to look at themselves in the mirror. It seemed the more scantily dressed they were the funnier they thought it would be. One rather rotund young adolescent spent the entire shoot trying to follow where my camera was pointing to get into the shot. I used Hannah to shield him and shifting quickly. I could photoshop him out but would rather not and it became a challenge to out smart him.

There were people sitting all around, even a sleeping baby I had to be mindful to not step on.

If you lower you perspective you can also lose people, vehicles, garbage, debris etc. and get more sky as your background. It is a simple but very effective technique for improving the look of your surroundings and "losing" the people on the crowded beach messing up your wonderful sunset shot.

Above all, move. Move the camera. Often times the coolest shots don't involve moving the subject but moving the camera. Perspective is the easiest way to add visual intrigue to a picture. Just showing a different way of looking at things can be so incredibly beautiful.